Means for removing superfluous solder from sheet-metal cans



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O. S. FELLOWS. MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPERFLUOUS SOLDER FROM SHEET METAL CANS.

No. 595,705. v Patten ted De0.21,189'7.

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} 0. S. FELLOWS. MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPEEFLUOUS SOLDER FROM SHEET METAL CANS.

Patented Dec. 21,1897.

(NoModL) 5'Sh'eets-Sheet 3.

0. s. FELLOWS. MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPERPLUOUS SOLDER FROM SHEET METAL CANS.

-N0. 595,705. PatentedDeo. 21, 1897.'

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

O. S. FELLOWS. MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPERFLUOUS SOLDER PROM SHEET METAL CANS. No. 595.705. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

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0. s; FELLOWS. MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPERFLUOUS SOLDBR FROM SHEET METAL CANS; No. 595,705. Patented Dec. 2 1, 189.7

thercomb'n' i ation of the UNITED STATES.

PATENT UFFICE.

OLIN S. FELLOWS, OF'MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPERFLUOUS SOLDER FROM SHEET-METAL CANS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,705, dated December 21, 1897. Application filed May 10, 1897. Serial No, 635,905. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIN S. FELLows, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middle town,in the county of Orange'and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meansfor Removing Superfluous Solder from Sheet-Metal Cans, of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My improvements relate to the removal of superfluous solder from sheet-metal cans for the purpose set forth in my concurrent applications, Serial Nos. 605,598, 605,967, 606,536, 608,597, and 635,904.

The distinguishing feature of my present invention consists in retarding the progress of the cans as they pass through the apparatus for the purpose of treating them individ ually for the removal of superfluous solder, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

My invention'also includes certain special features in the combination and arrangement of parts for polishing and cooling the cans and controlling and collecting the superfluous solder removed from them.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating, diagrammatically, parts used by me in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan of the same. Fig. 3 is a section upon plane of line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan, upon a larger scale, of the can-rotating wheels and adjoining parts of the apparatus; Fig. 5, an

elevation of the parts as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a horizontal section upon plane of line 5 5, Fig. 4, showing a plan of the carrying-wheels, &c.; Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, detail views illustrating the several manipulations to which the cans are subjected when the apparatus is arranged as shown in the drawings. Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate, diagrammatically, different methods of forwarding and retarding the cans.

In carrying out my invention practically the partsmay be arranged so as to afford a straight run for the cans, as shown in the prior applications hereinbefore referred to and as indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14. I have, however, preferred to illustrate in detail apparatus in which the cans are forwarded by a Wheel instead of a belt.

W are the. ways which conduct the cans from the soldering apparatus, of any desired or well-known form. As ordinarily delivered from the soldering apparatus the cans roll with their longitudinal axes horizontal, or approximately so. As a matter of convenience in arrangement of parts, &c., I prefer to treat the cans with their longitudinal axes substantially vertical, although they may be manipulat-ed at any angle or inclination preferred with like result. Thus the Ways W in the drawings are formed with a quarter-twist or change in inclination by which the cans are changed from the horizontal to the vertical position before they enter between the periphery f of the forwarding-wheel F and the concentric rails C.

It is obvious that by imparting a sufficiently high degree of speed to the forwarding-wheel F the cans resting against the rails C may be rotated upon their axes in such manner as to throw off by centrifugal force superfluous solder, substantially as set forth in my concurrent applications hereinbefore referred to, and I do not seek to cover, broadly, herein means for throwing off superfluous solder by centrifugal force. By substituting the driving-wheel F for the driving-belts described in said prior applications I am, however, enabled to construct'an efl'ective apparatus which is much more simple and compact and in which the results sought are more quickly and positively attained.

I employ one or more auxiliary wheels, as A A A A, arranged in the same plane with and in such relation to the driving-wheel F as to bear peripherally on cans traveling along the concentric rails O as said cans approach and pass the radial line between the axes of the driving-wheel F and of said auxiliary wheels. By this means I am enabled to retard or hold the cans temporarily during their passage over the concentric rails O, at the same time increasing the number of revolutions by causing the auxiliary wheels to rotate in the reverse direction as compared with the forwardingwheel F.

Where the auxiliary wheels A AFA A have the same peripheral speed as the forwarding-Wheel, each can is held between the forwarding-wheel F and an auxiliary wheel until the next succeeding can is rolled along the concentric rails O by the forwarding-wheel F and displaces it by contact, the displaced can being again forwarded on the rails O by the wheel F. If it is desired to avoid actual contact of the cans with each other, the peripheral speed of the forwarding-wheel F is very slightly increased as compared with the peripheral speed of the auxiliary wheels, so that a can maybe forwarded beyond an auxiliary wheel before the arrival of the next succeeding can, the feeding mechanism being correspondingly timed.

The number of auxiliary wheels used depends on the number of special manipulations to which the cans are to be treated during their passage over the concentric rails 0. Thus in the accompanying drawings the wheel A may be designated as the centrifugal wheel, by which, acting in conjunction with the forwarding-wheel F, a sufficient speed of rotation is imparted to acan to throw off by centrifugal force the main portion of the superfluous solder acquired in the soldering-bath.

The auxiliary wheel A may be designated as the vapor wheel, which detains or retards each can so that it may be subjected to the action of jets of steam or other suitable vapor or gas directed through the nozzles n n in such manner as to impinge against the portion of the can that has passed through the soldering-bath, substantially as set forth in my concurrent application, Serial No. 635,9O1t. Although I do not limit myself to the use of any particular vapor or gas for this purpose, I have found superheated steam convenient and effective, and for this reason have shown symbolically a heating device it and superheating-chamber H, through which latter the steam or equivalent gas or vapor is passed on its passage to the nozzles not. The action of the hot gas or vapor under pressure is effective in removing the excess of solder, flux, and dross from the can and tends to cleanse and brighten the part of the can so treated. Any number of these nozzles 02 a may be arranged to direct the jets of vapor against the can while rotating between the auxiliary wheel A and the forwarding-wheel F, and they are preferably arranged to cause the hot Vapor to impinge against the can on both sides of the soldered joint, as shown in Fig. 8.

\Vhere it is desired to polish the exterior surface of the can by positive mechanical means after it has been subjected to the action of centrifugal force or to the action of the jets of heated vapor, I employ a rotary brush B in conjunction with the forwardingwheel F and auxiliary brush-wheel A arranged, preferably, so as to impinge against the soldered joint, as indicated in Fig. 9. It is obvious that this arrangement may also be used alone for the removal of superfluous solder, the main novelty in this connection consisting in the special combination and arrangement of the forwarding mechanism and auxiliary detaining-wheel and the rotating brush B, whereby the cans are retarded in progress and the number of revolutions on their axes is increased while being subjected to the action of the brush B.

As a final manipulation of each can before it leaves the concentric rails O, I prefer to subject it to a cooling-jet of air or equivalent under pressure while detained and rotated by and between the auxiliary cooling-wheel A as indicated more clearly in Fig. 10. The air-blast pipe P is arranged with its nozzle 17 substantially in line with the axis of the can while held by the auxiliary wheel A so that when the cap end of the can (the end with the opening 0, as in Fig. 10) is being treated the air will be projected into the interior of the can, thereby displacing the hot air from the interior of the can and, asI have found by actual test, cooling the can much quicker than if applied to the outside surface of the can.

Some of the particles thrown off during the manipulation of the cans are comparatively small and light. For the double purpose of removing these particles from the atmosphere and of collecting and saving them I inclose the driving-wheel F, auxiliary wheels, and concentric rails 0 between a table T and a hood or shield S, and connect the latter by means of a pipe 6 with a fan E or other form of exhaust apparatus, by which the air is withdrawn from the interior of the shield S and injected into a strainer or separator Gr, in which the particles are retained. A simple form of separator G is that shown in the drawings, consisting of a chamber containing a liquid against which the air from the exhaust-pipe e of the exhausting device E is caused to impinge, the impetus of the particles carrying them into contact with the liquid, which retains them, although any other form of separator or filter may be substituted if preferred.

The hood or shield S is preferably suspended by means of counterweights s s, the pipe 6 being made telescopic, as at e, to admit of the raising and lowering of the shield, which is formed with suitable openings for the ways \V and for the admission of air.

The forwarding-wheel F and the auxiliary wheels may have their relative motions imparted to them in any suitable manner and by wellknown mechanical expedients, the arrangement of belts shown in the drawings being simply illustrative. As shown, the driving-pulley D is on the shaftf of the forwarding-wheel F, which shaft f also carries two transfer-pulleys G G by which motion is transmitted through the belts g g to pulleys a e on the shafts a a which in turn transmit motion through the belts g g to the pulleys a a on the shafts a a, the belting being arranged to rotate the auxiliary wheels A A A A in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the forwarding-wheel F.

It will be seen that by the use of the auxiliary wheels in conjunction with forwardingwheels I am enabled to arrange for several simultaneous manipulations of the cans within a comparatively small space and to attain any desired length of treatment without variation of size or space.

It is to be understood that the drivingwheel and the auxiliary wheels are faced pc- 5 ripherally, preferably with a more or less elastic resilient material, so as to afford a hold or purchase upon the bodies of the cans. Pneumatic cushions may be advantageously used for this purpose.

While the use of a central forwarding- Wheel arranged in conjunction with retardingwheels, &cl, as above described, is effective, as I have proved by actual use, still, as hereinbefore stated, a belt may be substituted for I 5 the central forwarding-wheel, as indicated diagrammatically in the last four figures of the drawings. Thus in Fig. 11 a forwardingbelt F is arranged in conjunction with one or more retarding-wheels A and the ways w. In this case the belt F has slightly greater surface speed than the peripheral speed of the retarding-wheel A, so that the cans while retarded temporarily by each wheel A will finally be discharged by the belt.

In Fig. 12 the cans are fed onto inclined ways w and pass between opposed wheels F and A, rotating in opposite directions and at the same peripheral speed, the cans displacing each other as they pass down the ways 10; or, the ways w being horizontal, as inv Fig.

13, a slight increase of peripheral speed ,imparted to, say, the wheel F, will throw the cans along the ways from one retarding-Wheel A to the other.

Still another modification is shown in Fig. 14, in which the belt F and the wheels A have the same surface speed, the succeeding cans displacing those in advance, as in Fig. 12.

What I claim as my invention, and desire o to secure by Letters a tent, is lrlnsoldo -s ving apparatus, the combination of a can-forwarding surface, a canretarding wheel moving in a direction opposite to that of the said can-forwarding surface, and means for effecting the removal of superfiuous solder from the cans while rotating between said opposed traveling surfaces, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwarding wheel, an opposed auxiliary wheel revolving in the opposite direction, and means for effecting the removal of superfluous solder from the cans while rotating between said opposed wheels, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

3. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwarding wheel, opposed 6o concentric rails, and means for manipulating the cans for the removal of superfluous solder, substantially as described;

4. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwarding surface, and an opposed auxiliary wheel revolving in the opposite direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the cans and increasing their axial rotation, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

5. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwarding surface, opposed rails, and an opposed auxiliary wheel revolving in the opposite direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the cans, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. i

6. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwarding surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel revolving in the opposite direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the cans and increasing their axial rotation, and means for projecting jets of vapor against said cans, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

7. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwardin g surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel revolving in the opposite direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the cans, and means for projecting jets of superheated steam against said cans,

substantially in the manner and for the pur-' pose described.

8. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwarding surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel rotating in the opposite di rection for the purpose of retarding the advance of the cans, and a brush arranged to act against a can while the latter is between the said forwarding-wheel and said opposed auxiliary retardingwheel, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

9. In solder-saving apparatus the combination of a can-forwardin g surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel rotating in the opposite direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the cans, and means for projecting a cooling blast into a can while between said forwarding-wheel and auxiliary retardingwheel, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

10. The combination of apparatus for removing the superfluous solder from cans, a hood surrounding said solder-removing apparatus, an exhausting device for withdrawing the air from said hood and injecting it into a receiving-chamber, and said receiving chamber provided with means for retaining the solid particles of matter carried over to it by the air, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

' OLIN S. FELLOWS. Witnesses:

GEo. WM. MIATT, F. L. FREEMAN.

Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 595,795,

DISCLAIMER- 595,7 O5.-'0lz'n S. Fellows, Middletown, N. Y. MEANS FOR REMOVING SUPERFLUoUs Patent dated December 21, 1897 Disclaimer filed June 12, 1911, by patentee.

SoLDER FROM SHEET-METAL CANs.

Enters this disclaimer To those portions of the claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of said Patent No. 595,705

coverin the combinations therein set forth, respectively, excepting when at least one of said opposed traveling surfaces yields to afford a hold upon the body of the can peripherally as it approaches and passes the line between said traveling surfaces.

Also claim 10 of said patent.

[OFFIOIiAL GAZETTE, June 20, 1.911.] 

